The Message (MSG)

Famine and War

1 There was a famine in David’s time. It went on year after year after year—three years. David went toGodseeking the reason.

Godsaid, “This is because there is blood on Saul and his house, from the time he massacred the Gibeonites.”

2 So the king called the Gibeonites together for consultation. (The Gibeonites were not part of Israel; they were what was left of the Amorites, and protected by a treaty with Israel. But Saul, a fanatic for the honor of Israel and Judah, tried to kill them off.)

3 David addressed the Gibeonites: “What can I do for you? How can I compensate you so that you will blessGod’s legacy of land and people?”

4 The Gibeonites replied, “We don’t want any money from Saul and his family. And it’s not up to us to put anyone in Israel to death.”

But David persisted: “What are you saying I should do for you?”

5-6 Then they told the king, “The man who tried to get rid of us, who schemed to wipe us off the map of Israel—well, let seven of his sons be handed over to us to be executed—hanged beforeGodat Gibeah of Saul, the holy mountain.”

And David agreed, “I’ll hand them over to you.”

7-9 The king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the promise David and Jonathan had spoken beforeGod. But the king selected Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons that Rizpah daughter of Aiah had borne to Saul, plus the five sons that Saul’s daughter Merab had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite. He turned them over to the Gibeonites who hanged them on the mountain beforeGod—all seven died together. Harvest was just getting underway, the beginning of the barley harvest, when they were executed.

10 Rizpah daughter of Aiah took rough burlap and spread it out for herself on a rock from the beginning of the harvest until the heavy rains started. She kept the birds away from the bodies by day and the wild animals by night.

11-14 David was told what she had done, this Rizpah daughter of Aiah and concubine of Saul. He then went and got the remains of Saul and Jonathan his son from the leaders at Jabesh Gilead (who had rescued them from the town square at Beth Shan where the Philistines had hung them after striking them down at Gilboa). He gathered up their remains and brought them together with the dead bodies of the seven who had just been hanged. The bodies were taken back to the land of Benjamin and given a decent burial in the tomb of Kish, Saul’s father.

They did everything the king ordered to be done. That cleared things up: from then on God responded to Israel’s prayers for the land.

15-17 War broke out again between the Philistines and Israel. David and his men went down to fight. David became exhausted. Ishbi-Benob, a warrior descended from Rapha, with a spear weighing nearly eight pounds and outfitted in brand-new armor, announced that he’d kill David. But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to the rescue, struck the Philistine, and killed him.

Then David’s men swore to him, “No more fighting on the front-lines for you! Don’t snuff out the lamp of Israel!”

18 Later there was another skirmish with the Philistines at Gob. That time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, another of the warriors descended from Rapha.

19 At yet another battle with the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan son of Jaar, the weaver of Bethlehem, killed Goliath the Gittite whose spear was as big as a flagpole.

20-21 Still another fight broke out in Gath. There was a giant there with six fingers on his hands and six toes on his feet—twenty-four fingers and toes! He was another of those descended from Rapha. He insulted Israel, and Jonathan son of Shimeah, David’s brother, killed him.

22 These four were descended from Rapha in Gath. And they all were killed by David and his soldiers.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/85/32k/2SA/21-a00f7a0e72c277de2858adbddb454eb0.mp3?version_id=97—

1 David prayed toGodthe words of this song afterGodsaved him from all his enemies and from Saul.

2-3 Godis bedrock under my feet,

the castle in which I live,

my rescuing knight.

My God—the high crag

where I run for dear life,

hiding behind the boulders,

safe in the granite hideout;

My mountaintop refuge,

he saves me from ruthless men.

4 I sing toGodthe Praise-Lofty,

and find myself safe and saved.

5-6 The waves of death crashed over me,

devil waters rushed over me.

Hell’s ropes cinched me tight;

death traps barred every exit.

7 A hostile world! I called toGod,

to my God I cried out.

From his palace he heard me call;

my cry brought me right into his presence—

a private audience!

8-16 Earth wobbled and lurched;

the very heavens shook like leaves,

Quaked like aspen leaves

because of his rage.

His nostrils flared, billowing smoke;

his mouth spit fire.

Tongues of fire darted in and out;

he lowered the sky.

He stepped down;

under his feet an abyss opened up.

He rode a winged creature,

swift on wind-wings.

He wrapped himself

in a trenchcoat of black rain-cloud darkness.

But his cloud-brightness burst through,

a grand comet of fireworks.

ThenGodthundered out of heaven;

the High God gave a great shout.

God shot his arrows—pandemonium!

He hurled his lightnings—a rout!

The secret sources of ocean were exposed,

the hidden depths of earth lay uncovered

The momentGodroared in protest,

let loose his hurricane anger.

17-20 But me he caught—reached all the way

from sky to sea; he pulled me out

Of that ocean of hate, that enemy chaos,

the void in which I was drowning.

They hit me when I was down,

butGodstuck by me.

He stood me up on a wide-open field;

I stood there saved—surprised to be loved!

21-25 Godmade my life complete

when I placed all the pieces before him.

When I cleaned up my act,

he gave me a fresh start.

Indeed, I’ve kept alert toGod’s ways;

I haven’t taken God for granted.

Every day I review the ways he works,

I try not to miss a trick.

I feel put back together,

and I’m watching my step.

Godrewrote the text of my life

when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.

26-28 You stick by people who stick with you,

you’re straight with people who’re straight with you,

You’re good to good people,

you shrewdly work around the bad ones.

You take the side of the down-and-out,

but the stuck-up you take down a peg.

29-31 Suddenly,God, your light floods my path,

Goddrives out the darkness.

I smash the bands of marauders,

I vault the high fences.

What a God! His road

stretches straight and smooth.

EveryGod-direction is road-tested.

Everyone who runs toward him

Makes it.

32-46 Is there any god likeGod?

Are we not at bedrock?

Is not this the God who armed me well,

then aimed me in the right direction?

Now I run like a deer;

I’m king of the mountain.

He shows me how to fight;

I can bend a bronze bow!

You protect me with salvation-armor;

you touch me and I feel ten feet tall.

You cleared the ground under me

so my footing was firm.

When I chased my enemies I caught them;

I didn’t let go till they were dead men.

I nailed them; they were down for good;

then I walked all over them.

You armed me well for this fight;

you smashed the upstarts.

You made my enemies turn tail,

and I wiped out the haters.

They cried “uncle”

but Uncle didn’t come;

They yelled forGod

and got no for an answer.

I ground them to dust; they gusted in the wind.

I threw them out, like garbage in the gutter.

You rescued me from a squabbling people;

you made me a leader of nations.

People I’d never heard of served me;

the moment they got wind of me they submitted.

They gave up; they came trembling from their hideouts.

47-51 Live,God! Blessing to my Rock,

my towering Salvation-God!

This God set things right for me

and shut up the people who talked back.

He rescued me from enemy anger.

You pulled me from the grip of upstarts,

You saved me from the bullies.

That’s why I’m thanking you,God,

all over the world.

That’s why I’m singing songs

that rhyme your name.

God’s king takes the trophy;

God’s chosen is beloved.

I mean David and all his children—

always.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/85/32k/2SA/22-d72f2eb281235326b5ace07e1ad7daca.mp3?version_id=97—

1 These are David’s last words:

The voice of the son of Jesse,

the voice of the man God took to the top,

Whom the God of Jacob made king,

and Israel’s most popular singer!

2-7 God’s Spirit spoke through me,

his words took shape on my tongue.

The God of Israel spoke to me,

Israel’s Rock-Mountain said,

“Whoever governs fairly and well,

who rules in the Fear-of-God,

Is like first light at daybreak

without a cloud in the sky,

Like green grass carpeting earth,

glistening under fresh rain.”

And this is just how my regime has been,

for God guaranteed his covenant with me,

Spelled it out plainly

and kept every promised word—

My entire salvation,

my every desire.

But the devil’s henchmen are like thorns

culled and piled as trash;

Better not try to touch them;

keep your distance with a rake or hoe.

They’ll make a glorious bonfire!

8 This is the listing of David’s top men.

Josheb-Basshebeth, the Tahkemonite. He was chief of the Three. He once put his spear to work against eight hundred—killed them all in a day.

9-10 Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite was the next of the elite Three. He was with David when the Philistines poked fun at them at Pas Dammim. When the Philistines drew up for battle, Israel retreated. But Eleazar stood his ground and killed Philistines right and left until he was exhausted—but he never let go of his sword! A big win forGodthat day. The army then rejoined Eleazar, but all there was left to do was the cleanup.

11-12 Shammah son of Agee the Hararite was the third of the Three. The Philistines had mustered for battle at Lehi, where there was a field full of lentils. Israel fled before the Philistines, but Shammah took his stand at the center of the field, successfully defended it, and routed the Philistines. Another great victory forGod!

13-17 One day during harvest, the Three parted from the Thirty and joined David at the Cave of Adullam. A squad of Philistines had set up camp in the Valley of Rephaim. While David was holed up in the Cave, the Philistines had their base camp in Bethlehem. David had a sudden craving and said, “Would I ever like a drink of water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem!” So the Three penetrated the Philistine lines, drew water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But David wouldn’t drink it; he poured it out as an offering toGod, saying, “There is no way,God, that I’ll drink this! This isn’t mere water, it’s their life-blood—they risked their very lives to bring it!” So David refused to drink it.

This is the sort of thing that the Three did.

18-19 Abishai brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah was the head of the Thirty. He once got credit for killing three hundred with his spear, but he was never named in the same breath as the Three. He was the most respected of the Thirty and was their captain, but never got included among the Three.

20-21 Benaiah son of Jehoiada from Kabzeel was a vigorous man who accomplished a great deal. He once killed two lion cubs in Moab. Another time, on a snowy day, he climbed down into a pit and killed a lion. Another time he killed a formidable Egyptian. The Egyptian was armed with a spear and Benaiah went against him with nothing but a walking stick; he seized the spear from his grip and killed him with his own spear.

22-23 These are the things that Benaiah son of Jehoiada is famous for. But neither did he ever get ranked with the Three. He was held in greatest respect among the Thirty, but he never got included with the Three. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

The Thirty

24-39 “The Thirty” consisted of:

Asahel brother of Joab;

Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem;

Shammah the Harodite;

Elika the Harodite;

Helez the Paltite;

Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite;

Abiezer the Anathothite;

Sibbecai the Hushathite;

Zalmon the Ahohite;

Maharai the Netophathite;

Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite;

Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjaminites;

Benaiah the Pirathonite;

Hiddai from the badlands of Gaash;

Abi-Albon the Arbathite;

Azmaveth the Barhumite;

Eliahba the Shaalbonite;

Jashen the Gizonite;

Jonathan son of Shammah the Hararite;

Ahiam son of Sharar the Urite;

Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite;

Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite;

Hezro the Carmelite;

Paarai the Arbite;

Igal son of Nathan, commander of the army of Hagrites;

Zelek the Ammonite;

Naharai the Beerothite, weapon bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah;

Ira the Ithrite;

Gareb the Ithrite;

Uriah the Hittite.

Thirty-seven, all told.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/85/32k/2SA/23-f47f46041da258eceac1604793013938.mp3?version_id=97—

1-2 Once againGod’s anger blazed out against Israel. He tested David by telling him, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.” So David gave orders to Joab and the army officers under him, “Canvass all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and get a count of the population. I want to know the number.”

3 But Joab resisted the king: “May yourGodmultiply people by the hundreds right before the eyes of my master the king, but why on earth would you do a thing like this?”

4-9 Nevertheless, the king insisted, and so Joab and the army officers left the king to take a census of Israel. They crossed the Jordan and began with Aroer and the town in the canyon of the Gadites near Jazer, proceeded through Gilead, passed Hermon, then on to Dan, but detoured Sidon. They covered Fort Tyre and all the Hivite and Canaanite cities, and finally reached the Negev of Judah at Beersheba. They canvassed the whole country and after nine months and twenty days arrived back in Jerusalem. Joab gave the results of the census to the king: 800,000 able-bodied fighting men in Israel; in Judah 500,000.

10 But when it was all done, David was overwhelmed with guilt because he had counted the people, replacing trust with statistics. And David prayed toGod, “I have sinned badly in what I have just done. But nowGodforgive my guilt—I’ve been really stupid.”

11-12 When David got up the next morning, the word ofGodhad already come to Gad the prophet, David’s spiritual advisor, “Go and give David this message: ‘Godhas spoken thus: There are three things I can do to you; choose one out of the three and I’ll see that it’s done.’”

13 Gad came to deliver the message: “Do you want three years of famine in the land, or three months of running from your enemies while they chase you down, or three days of an epidemic on the country? Think it over and make up your mind. What shall I tell the one who sent me?”

14 David told Gad, “They’re all terrible! But I’d rather be punished byGod, whose mercy is great, than fall into human hands.”

15-16 SoGodlet loose an epidemic from morning until suppertime. From Dan to Beersheba seventy thousand people died. But when the angel reached out over Jerusalem to destroy it,Godfelt the pain of the terror and told the angel who was spreading death among the people, “Enough’s enough! Pull back!”

The angel ofGodhad just reached the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. David looked up and saw the angel hovering between earth and sky, sword drawn and about to strike Jerusalem. David and the elders bowed in prayer and covered themselves with rough burlap.

17 When David saw the angel about to destroy the people, he prayed, “Please! I’m the one who sinned; I, the shepherd, did the wrong. But these sheep, what did they do wrong? Punish me and my family, not them.”

18-19 That same day Gad came to David and said, “Go and build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” David did what Gad told him, whatGodcommanded.

20-21 Araunah looked up and saw David and his men coming his way; he met them, bowing deeply, honoring the king and saying, “Why has my master the king come to see me?”

“To buy your threshing floor,” said David, “so I can build an altar toGodhere and put an end to this disaster.”

22-23 “Oh,” said Araunah, “let my master the king take and sacrifice whatever he wants. Look, here’s an ox for the burnt offering and threshing paddles and ox-yokes for fuel—Araunah gives it all to the king! And mayGod, your God, act in your favor.”

24-25 But the king said to Araunah, “No. I’ve got to buy it from you for a good price; I’m not going to offerGod, my God, sacrifices that are no sacrifice.”

So David bought the threshing floor and the ox, paying out fifty shekels of silver. He built an altar toGodthere and sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings.Godwas moved by the prayers and that was the end of the disaster.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/85/32k/2SA/24-ea29ee60c3014d32bcdd5135347003e6.mp3?version_id=97—

Hannah Pours Out Her Heart to God

1-2 There once was a man who lived in Ramathaim. He was descended from the old Zuph family in the Ephraim hills. His name was Elkanah. (He was connected with the Zuphs from Ephraim through his father Jeroham, his grandfather Elihu, and his great-grandfather Tohu.) He had two wives. The first was Hannah; the second was Peninnah. Peninnah had children; Hannah did not.

3-7 Every year this man went from his hometown up to Shiloh to worship and offer a sacrifice toGod-of-the-Angel-Armies. Eli and his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, served as the priests ofGodthere. When Elkanah sacrificed, he passed helpings from the sacrificial meal around to his wife Peninnah and all her children, but he always gave an especially generous helping to Hannah because he loved her so much, and becauseGodhad not given her children. But her rival wife taunted her cruelly, rubbing it in and never letting her forget thatGodhad not given her children. This went on year after year. Every time she went to the sanctuary ofGodshe could expect to be taunted. Hannah was reduced to tears and had no appetite.

8 Her husband Elkanah said, “Oh, Hannah, why are you crying? Why aren’t you eating? And why are you so upset? Am I not of more worth to you than ten sons?”

9-11 So Hannah ate. Then she pulled herself together, slipped away quietly, and entered the sanctuary. The priest Eli was on duty at the entrance toGod’s Temple in the customary seat. Crushed in soul, Hannah prayed toGodand cried and cried—inconsolably. Then she made a vow:

Oh,God-of-the-Angel-Armies,

If you’ll take a good, hard look at my pain,

If you’ll quit neglecting me and go into action for me

By giving me a son,

I’ll give him completely, unreservedly to you.

I’ll set him apart for a life of holy discipline.

12-14 It so happened that as she continued in prayer beforeGod, Eli was watching her closely. Hannah was praying in her heart, silently. Her lips moved, but no sound was heard. Eli jumped to the conclusion that she was drunk. He approached her and said, “You’re drunk! How long do you plan to keep this up? Sober up, woman!”

15-16 Hannah said, “Oh no, sir—please! I’m a woman hard used. I haven’t been drinking. Not a drop of wine or beer. The only thing I’ve been pouring out is my heart, pouring it out toGod. Don’t for a minute think I’m a bad woman. It’s because I’m so desperately unhappy and in such pain that I’ve stayed here so long.”

17 Eli answered her, “Go in peace. And may the God of Israel give you what you have asked of him.”

18 “Think well of me—and pray for me!” she said, and went her way. Then she ate heartily, her face radiant.

19 Up before dawn, they worshipedGodand returned home to Ramah. Elkanah slept with Hannah his wife, andGodbegan making the necessary arrangements in response to what she had asked.

Dedicating the Child to God

20 Before the year was out, Hannah had conceived and given birth to a son. She named him Samuel, explaining, “I askedGodfor him.”

21-22 When Elkanah next took his family on their annual trip to Shiloh to worshipGod, offering sacrifices and keeping his vow, Hannah didn’t go. She told her husband, “After the child is weaned, I’ll bring him myself and present him beforeGod—and that’s where he’ll stay, for good.”

23-24 Elkanah said to his wife, “Do what you think is best. Stay home until you have weaned him. Yes! LetGodcomplete what he has begun!”

So she did. She stayed home and nursed her son until she had weaned him. Then she took him up to Shiloh, bringing also the makings of a generous sacrificial meal—a prize bull, flour, and wine. The child was so young to be sent off!

25-28 They first butchered the bull, then brought the child to Eli. Hannah said, “Excuse me, sir. Would you believe that I’m the very woman who was standing before you at this very spot, praying toGod? I prayed for this child, andGodgave me what I asked for. And now I have dedicated him toGod. He’s dedicated toGodfor life.”

Then and there, they worshipedGod.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/85/32k/1SA/1-fee3b2498c60acaabd4e26a4a0d27d8e.mp3?version_id=97—

1 Hannah prayed:

I’m bursting withGod-news!

I’m walking on air.

I’m laughing at my rivals.

I’m dancing my salvation.

2-5 Nothing and no one is holy likeGod,

no rock mountain like our God.

Don’t dare talk pretentiously—

not a word of boasting, ever!

ForGodknows what’s going on.

He takes the measure of everything that happens.

The weapons of the strong are smashed to pieces,

while the weak are infused with fresh strength.

The well-fed are out begging in the streets for crusts,

while the hungry are getting second helpings.

The barren woman has a houseful of children,

while the mother of many is bereft.

6-10 Godbrings death andGodbrings life,

brings down to the grave and raises up.

Godbrings poverty andGodbrings wealth;

he lowers, he also lifts up.

He puts poor people on their feet again;

he rekindles burned-out lives with fresh hope,

Restoring dignity and respect to their lives—

a place in the sun!

For the very structures of earth areGod’s;

he has laid out his operations on a firm foundation.

He protectively cares for his faithful friends, step by step,

but leaves the wicked to stumble in the dark.

No one makes it in this life by sheer muscle!

God’s enemies will be blasted out of the sky,

crashed in a heap and burned.

Godwill set things right all over the earth,

he’ll give strength to his king,

he’ll set his anointed on top of the world!

11 Elkanah went home to Ramah. The boy stayed and servedGodin the company of Eli the priest.

Samuel Serves God

12-17 Eli’s own sons were a bad lot. They didn’t knowGodand could not have cared less about the customs of priests among the people. Ordinarily, when someone offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant was supposed to come up and, while the meat was boiling, stab a three-pronged fork into the cooking pot. The priest then got whatever came up on the fork. But this is how Eli’s sons treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh to offer sacrifices toGod. Before they had even burned the fat toGod, the priest’s servant would interrupt whoever was sacrificing and say, “Hand over some of that meat for the priest to roast. He doesn’t like boiled meat; he likes his rare.” If the man objected, “First let the fat be burned—God’s portion!—then take all you want,” the servant would demand, “No, I want it now. If you won’t give it, I’ll take it.” It was a horrible sin these young servants were committing—and right in the presence ofGod!—desecrating the holy offerings toGod.

18-20 In the midst of all this, Samuel, a boy dressed in a priestly linen tunic, servedGod. Additionally, every year his mother would make him a little robe cut to his size and bring it to him when she and her husband came for the annual sacrifice. Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “Godgive you children to replace this child you have dedicated toGod.” Then they would go home.

21 Godwas most especially kind to Hannah. She had three more sons and two daughters! The boy Samuel stayed at the sanctuary and grew up withGod.

A Hard Life with Many Tears

22-25 By this time Eli was very old. He kept getting reports on how his sons were ripping off the people and sleeping with the women who helped out at the sanctuary. Eli took them to task: “What’s going on here? Why are you doing these things? I hear story after story of your corrupt and evil carrying on. Oh, my sons, this is not right! These are terrible reports I’m getting, stories spreading right and left amongGod’s people! If you sin against another person, there’s help—God’s help. But if you sin againstGod, who is around to help?”

25-26 But they were far gone in disobedience and refused to listen to a thing their father said. SoGod, who was fed up with them, decreed their death. But the boy Samuel was very much alive, growing up, blessed byGodand popular with the people.

27-30 A holy man came to Eli and said: “This isGod’s message: I revealed myself openly to your ancestors when they were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt. Out of all the tribes of Israel, I chose your family to be my priests: to preside at the Altar, to burn incense, to wear the priestly robes in my presence. I put your ancestral family in charge of all the sacrificial offerings of Israel. So why do you now treat as mere loot these very sacrificial offerings that I commanded for my worship? Why do you treat your sons better than me, turning them loose to get fat on these offerings, and ignoring me? Therefore—this isGod’s word, the God of Israel speaking—I once said that you and your ancestral family would be my priests indefinitely, but now—God’s word, remember!—there is no way this can continue.

I honor those who honor me;

those who scorn me I demean.

31-36 “Be well warned: It won’t be long before I wipe out both your family and your future family. No one in your family will make it to old age! You’ll see good things that I’m doing in Israel, but you’ll see it and weep, for no one in your family will live to enjoy it. I will leave one person to serve at my Altar, but it will be a hard life, with many tears. Everyone else in your family will die before their time. What happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be the proof: Both will die the same day. Then I’ll establish for myself a true priest. He’ll do what I want him to do, be what I want him to be. I’ll make his position secure and he’ll do his work freely in the service of my anointed one. Survivors from your family will come to him begging for handouts, saying, ‘Please, give me some priest work, just enough to put some food on the table.’”

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/85/32k/1SA/2-3fdccdcf76e345222ad746aa75615f16.mp3?version_id=97—

“Speak, God. I’m Ready to Listen”

1-3 The boy Samuel was servingGodunder Eli’s direction. This was at a time when the revelation ofGodwas rarely heard or seen. One night Eli was sound asleep (his eyesight was very bad—he could hardly see). It was well before dawn; the sanctuary lamp was still burning. Samuel was still in bed in the Temple ofGod, where the Chest of God rested.

4-5 ThenGodcalled out, “Samuel, Samuel!”

Samuel answered, “Yes? I’m here.” Then he ran to Eli saying, “I heard you call. Here I am.”

Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” And so he did.

6-7 Godcalled again, “Samuel, Samuel!”

Samuel got up and went to Eli, “I heard you call. Here I am.”

Again Eli said, “Son, I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” (This all happened before Samuel knewGodfor himself. It was before the revelation ofGodhad been given to him personally.)

8-9 Godcalled again, “Samuel!”—the third time! Yet again Samuel got up and went to Eli, “Yes? I heard you call me. Here I am.”

That’s when it dawned on Eli thatGodwas calling the boy. So Eli directed Samuel, “Go back and lie down. If the voice calls again, say, ‘Speak,God. I’m your servant, ready to listen.’” Samuel returned to his bed.

10 ThenGodcame and stood before him exactly as before, calling out, “Samuel! Samuel!”

Samuel answered, “Speak. I’m your servant, ready to listen.”

11-14 Godsaid to Samuel, “Listen carefully. I’m getting ready to do something in Israel that is going to shake everyone up and get their attention. The time has come for me to bring down on Eli’s family everything I warned him of, every last word of it. I’m letting him know that the time’s up. I’m bringing judgment on his family for good. He knew what was going on, that his sons were desecrating God’s name and God’s place, and he did nothing to stop them. This is my sentence on the family of Eli: The evil of Eli’s family can never be wiped out by sacrifice or offering.”

15 Samuel stayed in bed until morning, then rose early and went about his duties, opening the doors of the sanctuary, but he dreaded having to tell the vision to Eli.

16 But then Eli summoned Samuel: “Samuel, my son!”

Samuel came running: “Yes? What can I do for you?”

17 “What did he say? Tell it to me, all of it. Don’t suppress or soften one word, as God is your judge! I want it all, word for word as he said it to you.”

18 So Samuel told him, word for word. He held back nothing.

Eli said, “He isGod. Let him do whatever he thinks best.”

19-21 Samuel grew up.Godwas with him, and Samuel’s prophetic record was flawless. Everyone in Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, recognized that Samuel was the real thing—a true prophet ofGod.Godcontinued to show up at Shiloh, revealed through his word to Samuel at Shiloh.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/85/32k/1SA/3-cb17d53e1060ccc4b52b70a74811421d.mp3?version_id=97—

The Chest of God Is Taken

1-3 Whatever Samuel said was broadcast all through Israel. Israel went to war against the Philistines. Israel set up camp at Ebenezer, the Philistines at Aphek. The Philistines marched out to meet Israel, the fighting spread, and Israel was badly beaten—about four thousand soldiers left dead on the field. When the troops returned to camp, Israel’s elders said, “Why hasGodgiven us such a beating today by the Philistines? Let’s go to Shiloh and get the Chest ofGod’s Covenant. It will accompany us and save us from the grip of our enemies.”

4 So the army sent orders to Shiloh. They brought the Chest of the Covenant ofGod, theGod-of-the-Angel-Armies, the Cherubim-Enthroned-God. Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, accompanied the Chest of the Covenant of God.

5-6 When the Chest of the Covenant ofGodwas brought into camp, everyone gave a huge cheer. The shouts were like thunderclaps shaking the very ground. The Philistines heard the shouting and wondered what on earth was going on: “What’s all this shouting among the Hebrews?”

6-9 Then they learned that the Chest ofGodhad entered the Hebrew camp. The Philistines panicked: “Their gods have come to their camp! Nothing like this has ever happened before. We’re done for! Who can save us from the clutches of these supergods? These are the same gods who hit the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues out in the wilderness. On your feet, Philistines! Courage! We’re about to become slaves to the Hebrews, just as they have been slaves to us. Show what you’re made of! Fight for your lives!”

10-11 And did they ever fight! It turned into a rout. They thrashed Israel so mercilessly that the Israelite soldiers ran for their lives, leaving behind an incredible thirty thousand dead. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the Chest of God was taken and the two sons of Eli—Hophni and Phinehas—were killed.

Glory Is Exiled from Israel

12-16 Immediately, a Benjaminite raced from the front lines back to Shiloh. Shirt torn and face smeared with dirt, he entered the town. Eli was sitting on his stool beside the road keeping vigil, for he was extremely worried about the Chest of God. When the man ran straight into town to tell the bad news, everyone wept. They were appalled. Eli heard the loud wailing and asked, “Why this uproar?” The messenger hurried over and reported. Eli was ninety-eight years old then, and blind. The man said to Eli, “I’ve just come from the front, barely escaping with my life.”

“And so, my son,” said Eli, “what happened?”

17 The messenger answered, “Israel scattered before the Philistines. The defeat was catastrophic, with enormous losses. Your sons Hophni and Phinehas died, and the Chest of God was taken.”

18 At the words, “Chest of God,” Eli fell backward off his stool where he sat next to the gate. Eli was an old man, and very fat. When he fell, he broke his neck and died. He had led Israel forty years.

19-20 His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and ready to deliver. When she heard that the Chest of God had been taken and that both her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she went to her knees to give birth, going into hard labor. As she was about to die, her midwife said, “Don’t be afraid. You’ve given birth to a son!” But she gave no sign that she had heard.

21-22 The Chest of God gone, father-in-law dead, husband dead, she named the boy Ichabod (Glory’s-Gone), saying, “Glory is exiled from Israel since the Chest of God was taken.”

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/85/32k/1SA/4-ca5ca01e8040873f734638ef14347062.mp3?version_id=97—

Threatened with Mass Death

1-2 Once the Philistines had seized the Chest of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod, brought it into the shrine of Dagon, and placed it alongside the idol of Dagon.

3-5 Next morning when the citizens of Ashdod got up, they were shocked to find Dagon toppled from his place, flat on his face before the Chest ofGod. They picked him up and put him back where he belonged. First thing the next morning they found him again, toppled and flat on his face before the Chest ofGod. Dagon’s head and arms were broken off, strewn across the entrance. Only his torso was in one piece. (That’s why even today, the priests of Dagon and visitors to the Dagon shrine in Ashdod avoid stepping on the threshold.)

6 Godwas hard on the citizens of Ashdod. He devastated them by hitting them with tumors. This happened in both the town and the surrounding neighborhoods. He let loose rats among them. Jumping from ships there, rats swarmed all over the city! And everyone was deathly afraid.

7-8 When the leaders of Ashdod saw what was going on, they decided, “The chest of the god of Israel has got to go. We can’t handle this, and neither can our god Dagon.” They called together all the Philistine leaders and put it to them: “How can we get rid of the chest of the god of Israel?”

The leaders agreed: “Move it to Gath.” So they moved the Chest of the God of Israel to Gath.

9 But as soon as they moved it there,Godcame down hard on that city, too. It was mass hysteria! He hit them with tumors. Tumors broke out on everyone in town, young and old.

10-12 So they sent the Chest of God on to Ekron, but as the Chest was being brought into town, the people shouted in protest, “You’ll kill us all by bringing in this Chest of the God of Israel!” They called the Philistine leaders together and demanded, “Get it out of here, this Chest of the God of Israel. Send it back where it came from. We’re threatened with mass death!” For everyone was scared to death when the Chest of God showed up. God was already coming down very hard on the place. Those who didn’t die were hit with tumors. All over the city cries of pain and lament filled the air.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/85/32k/1SA/5-71ae66f3c46253c95fa5df4ce3973fa4.mp3?version_id=97—

Gold Tumors and Rats

1-2 After the Chest ofGodhad been among the Philistine people for seven months, the Philistine leaders called together their religious professionals, the priests, and experts on the supernatural for consultation: “How can we get rid of this Chest ofGod, get it off our hands without making things worse? Tell us!”

3 They said, “If you’re going to send the Chest of the God of Israel back, don’t just dump it on them. Pay compensation. Then you will be healed. After you’re in the clear again, God will let up on you. Why wouldn’t he?”

4-6 “And what exactly would make for adequate compensation?”

“Five gold tumors and five gold rats,” they said, “to match the number of Philistine leaders. Since all of you—leaders and people—suffered the same plague, make replicas of the tumors and rats that are devastating the country and present them as an offering to the glory of the God of Israel. Then maybe he’ll ease up and not be so hard on you and your gods, and on your country. Why be stubborn like the Egyptians and Pharaoh? God didn’t quit pounding on them until they let the people go. Only then did he let up.

7-9 “So here’s what you do: Take a brand-new oxcart and two cows that have never been in harness. Hitch the cows to the oxcart and send their calves back to the barn. Put the Chest ofGodon the cart. Secure the gold replicas of the tumors and rats that you are offering as compensation in a sack and set them next to the Chest. Then send it off. But keep your eyes on it. If it heads straight back home to where it came from, toward Beth Shemesh, it is clear that this catastrophe is a divine judgment, but if not, we’ll know that God had nothing to do with it—it was just an accident.”

10-12 So that’s what they did: They hitched two cows to the cart, put their calves in the barn, and placed the Chest ofGodand the sack of gold rats and tumors on the cart. The cows headed straight for home, down the road to Beth Shemesh, straying neither right nor left, mooing all the way. The Philistine leaders followed them to the outskirts of Beth Shemesh.

13-15 The people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting wheat in the valley. They looked up and saw the Chest. Jubilant, they ran to meet it. The cart came into the field of Joshua, a Beth Shemeshite, and stopped there beside a huge boulder. The harvesters tore the cart to pieces, then chopped up the wood and sacrificed the cows as a burnt offering toGod. The Levites took charge of the Chest ofGodand the sack containing the gold offerings, placing them on the boulder. Offering the sacrifices, everyone in Beth Shemesh worshipedGodmost heartily that day.

16 When the five Philistine leaders saw what they came to see, they returned the same day to Ekron.

17-18 The five gold replicas of the tumors were offered by the Philistines in compensation for the cities of Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. The five gold rats matched the number of Philistine towns, both large and small, ruled by the five leaders. The big boulder on which they placed the Chest ofGodis still there in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, a landmark.

If You Are Serious About Coming Back to God

19-20 God struck some of the men of Beth Shemesh who, out of curiosity, irreverently peeked into the Chest ofGod. Seventy died. The whole town was in mourning, reeling under the hard blow fromGod, and questioning, “Who can stand beforeGod, this holy God? And who can we get to take this Chest off our hands?”

21 They sent emissaries to Kiriath Jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the Chest ofGod. Come down and get it.”

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/85/32k/1SA/6-61ea10ac70f6fe0a67b57b7219587444.mp3?version_id=97—